Accelerating Technology Transfer for the Future of Photovoltaics
At Helmholtz, we drive groundbreaking photovoltaic innovations — but bringing them to market can take decades.
Solar TAP bridges the gap between research and industry, transforming laboratory breakthroughs into real-world applications. By focusing on key photovoltaic technologies, we fast-track the commercialization of cutting-edge solar innovations.
Accelerate success for the Future
Our Success Stories highlight how innovation and strong partnerships drive emerging photovoltaic innovations. Explore our achievements—made possible through collaboration with industry leaders.
Revolutionizing PV Research with Autonomous Robotics
SpinBot by SCIPRIOS automates thin-film processing for solar cells. In Solar TAP, HI ERN enhances it with AI-driven optimization, revolutionizing solar technology.
The Future in Every Drop: Inkjet-Printed Silver for Next-Gen Solar Cells
A low-temperature, inkjet-printing process creates flexible, conductive electrodes—enabling scalable, lightweight solar and OLED applications.
Bringing AI-Powered Polymer Identification to the PV Industry
ANYMO uses NIRA, a handheld sensor, and AI to quickly identify PV polymers on-site—no sampling needed. Developed with HI ERN and Solar TAP partners.
Redefining Optical Filters with Innovation in Printing Technology
At KIT’s Light Management Lab, researchers developed a way to inkjet-print optical filters. Supported by Solar TAP, this innovation led to the spin-off Prio Optics GmbH.
Turning Green Chemistry into Green Energy
Together with Solaveni the Solar TAP team developed a non-toxic, water- and alcohol-based ink for slot-die coating perovskite absorbers in ambient conditions.
Next-generation greenhouses boost plant growth
Researchers from Lambda Agri Ltd., Bath and Cambridge universities, and Solar TAP developed spray-on coatings for glass greenhouses that boost crop yields.
Accelerating Optoelectronic Device Development
Through Solar TAP, QYB integrated its LuQY Pro system into automated thin-film production, enabling fast, precise luminescence yield measurements. This boosted adoption for optimizing materials in solar cells, LEDs, and sensors.
Simulating Light: The Optical Core of Solar TAP’s Digital Twin
Solar TAP scientists closely cooperate with colleagues from JCMwave to further advance our abilities to study the optical properties of solar cells and to channel these advancements into our Digital Twin.
Inkjet-Printed Perovskites for Tandem Solar Cell Manufacturing
TipStar is advancing scalable production of high-efficiency perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells using inkjet printing. The project unites research and industry to overcome efficiency limits of traditional silicon cells.
Demonstrating Agri-PV with Organic Solar Foils at Bestema
A pioneering Agri-PV project successfully integrated flexible organic solar foils into berry farm tunnels, demonstrating dual benefits of power generation and improved crop growth conditions.
Facade-Integrated Organic Photovoltaics at EStW
Nearly 100 Heliatek modules were applied directly to the metal facades of EStW buildings demonstrating the potential of OPV for urban environments.
Hands-On Transfer – Slot-Die Coating Workshops
In partnership with FOM Technologies, HySPRINT and Solar TAP provide hands-on slot-die workshops for both researchers and industry, tailored to real-world materials and processing needs.
What Our Industry Partners Say
Our industrial partners share how Solar TAP supports rapid, hands-on collaboration — from first prototypes to market-ready solutions.
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LayTec
Dr. Christian Camus, CMO and product manager
“Solar TAP allows us to stay ahead of the curve in the fast-moving field of emerging photovoltaics.”
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Solaveni
Dr. Senol Öz, CEO
“The Solar TAP standard operating procedures help us improve the quality of next-generation PV materials.”
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SCIPRIOS
Dr. Tobias Stubhan, CEO
“Solar TAP is the perfect platform to test and refine our lab automation together with the best minds in the field.”
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GM Grafisk Maskinfabrik
Dr. Hans-Joachim Egelhaaf, Senior Consultant
“By participating in Solar TAP we are not just refining our technology — we are actively contributing to the resurgence of a European solar manufacturing industry.”
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AMPERIAL Technologies
Why Solar TAP ?
Seamless Innovation Pipeline
We use a structured, stage-gate process to guide photovoltaic innovations from early research to market adoption. Standardized procedures ensure efficiency and accelerate development.
Digital Twin for Optimization
Our advanced digital twin technology enables precise simulations, performance predictions, and process optimizations—reducing time and cost in real-world testing.
Industry-Driven Collaboration
With a network of more than 40 companies, we foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and joint innovation projects. This ensures that R&D at Helmholtz aligns with industry needs, supported by a dedicated market study. Start-ups receive dedicated support through pre-seed, seed, and growth phases.
Strategic Technology Roadmaps
We align science and industry through targeted roadmaps for emerging PV applications, including:
- BIPV: Aesthetic and functional building-integrated photovoltaics
- Mobility PV: Lightweight, flexible solar for transportation
- AgriPV: Sustainable energy solutions for farming
- IoTPV: Printed solar for IoT applications
Fast & Flexible Technology Transfer
Our agile cooperation model allows joint developments to begin within days—enabling businesses to rapidly test, adapt, and integrate photovoltaic innovations.
The Solar TAP innovation pipeline connects physical labs, digital tools, and living labs to accelerate application-focused technology transfer.l
